There are only eight days remaining to pay Pope County property taxes.

Street closure

Blackstone Construction, in conjunction with the City of Russellville, will begin a road project on East 2nd St. (between Knoxville and Elmira), and East B St. (between Detroit and Knoxville) beginning today.

Main Street Mission closed Tuesday and Wednesday

The Main Street Mission will be closed will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday due to road construction. They will open on Thursday for breakfast from 8:30-9:30 a.m. and lunch from 11a.m.-2 p.m.

The food box program will be rescheduled for Oct. 16. Registration will be from 8-9 a.m. Winter hours will begin on Oct. 30 and will be from 9-10 a.m.

For more information call 968-8303.

Symphonic Wind Ensemble to make 2013-14 debut

The Arkansas Tech University Symphonic Wind Ensemble will give its first performance of the 2013-14 academic year today. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. in Witherspoon Auditorium on the Arkansas Tech campus. Admission will be free and open to the public.

The Arkansas Tech Symphonic Wind Ensemble is directed by Dr. Christopher Anderson, associate professor of music and director of bands. For more information about public performances hosted by the Arkansas Tech Department of Music, call (479) 968-0368 or visit www.atu.edu/music.

Arkansas newspaper history is subject of history meeting

Arkansas newspaper history will be the subject of the Pope County Historical Association meeting Friday at the St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center cafeteria in Russellville.

Tom Larimer, executive director of the Arkansas Press Association, will present the program, which will concentrate on the role of newspapers as chroniclers of the life of communities. He will pay special attention to newspapers in Pope County. His title is “Your Newspaper, Your Life,” and he will tell how the newspaper reports on people of the community from cradle to grave.

No reservations are needed for the meal, which begins at 6 p.m. The meeting at 7 p.m. is free and open to the public.

Pope County Conservation District office is open

The Pope County Conservation District office is open for business as usual. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Because they are unable to use the federal equipment in their office, the phone number during the shutdown is (479) 264-3299. They continue to operate as the floodplain administration for the unincorporated areas of Pope County, as well as the Cities of Atkins and Pottsville. Agriculture equipment is also still available for rent, as are all other district funded programs. They are, however, unable to assist with any federal programs.

It is also time for their annual pecan sale. This year’s crop is ready to harvest and will be arriving in the office in November. All proceeds are used to educational programs for the area schools and other local organizations. Orders must be received and prepaid by Oct. 21 for mid-November delivery. Call (479) 264-3299 to order or for further information.